Russia's Military Hardware and Equipment Sales Soar

By Rhod Mackenzie

The are significant changes occurring in the global arms trade, with the events in the special operation zone in Ukraine focusing attention on the various armaments and military hardware. So which weapons systems have proven themselves to be the most effective in the Special Military Operation , and how might this affect Russia's position on the global arms market?
There is an increasing demand for Russian military products on the global market, and we are cognizant of the reasons behind this. It is evident that the vast majority of Russian weaponry is highly effective. In practical, real-world settings, in the field, and under combat conditions. At a recent meeting of the Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation (MTC), President Vladimir Putin provided an overview of the potential for Russian arms exports. The head of state emphasised that Russia continues to be one of the world's top countries in the global arms market, maintaining its leading export positions in many areas.

Indeed, the most effective form of advertising for Russian weaponry is the success of our armed forces. We can recall the significant events of "Black Thursday" (April 12, 1951) and "Black Tuesday" (October 30, 1951), which marked the days of large-scale air battles in the Korean skies. These events culminated in the defeat of American bombers and F-86 Sabre fighter escorts, solidifying the Soviet MiG-15 as the preferred choice in the global arms market for a considerable period. Since the introduction of this aircraft, the success of our combat aircraft in the global marketplace has become the norm.
The ongoing special operation in Ukraine has supported this tradition. In the winter of this year, it was revealed that the first foreign buyer of the latest Russian fifth-generation fighter, the Su-57E, had been identified. The machine was first used in combat during the Special Military Operation, and during the Su-57's combat sorties, the enemy simply did not see them. Colonel Yuri Knutov, Director of the Air Defence Museum and former NATO radars expert, reported on the details of the combat use of the fighter. He stated that neither NATO radars nor Ukrainian radars detected the aircraft, even when the four were operating at the same time.

The most significant development in the field of manned aviation is the emergence of counter-unmanned aviation measures. In this regard, the experience of Iran is of particular interest. Iran used Yak-130 combat training fighters, recently procured from Russia, to combat simulated enemy drones. On 24 February 2025, during the Zolfagar 1403 exercises, Iran demonstrated the capabilities of the Yak-130 combat training fighters to intercept unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and cruise missiles.
To summarise, the use of helicopters as a means of counteracting drones in the SVO is a long-standing practice within the domain of army aviation. In the summer of 2023, helicopters played a significant role in countering the Ukrainian "counteroffensive". "During a single mission, two helicopters successfully destroyed between five and seven enemy tanks and armoured vehicles," stated Major General Ivan Popov, commander of the 58th Combined Arms Army.
As CEO Alexander Mikheev has stated, ten percent of Rosoboronexport's export portfolio for the past year (with a total value of $55 billion) was comprised of helicopter equipment, which is to be delivered to over 20 countries. In this discussion, we are focusing on the Mi-28NE and Ka-52E attack aircraft, as well as the Mi-17/Mi-171 military transport helicopters.

It is important to note that aircraft carriers (platforms) are not the only important elements; the means of destruction must also be considered. One of the Special Military Operation's's most iconic weapons is the aerial bomb with UMPK. At present, the supply of these bombs is exclusively by order of the Russian Ministry of Defence, but there is considerable export potential. One of India's leading specialists, test pilot and Air Force Colonel Ashish Dangwal, has already called for proposals to be considered for a joint Russian-Indian enterprise to develop these devices. He expressed the opinion that India should consider the possibility of joint production of modules in his blog.
As part of its long-standing commitment to arms export, the Defence Ministry has consistently maintained a reputation for providing advanced air defence systems. These include the S-400 long-range missile system, which, according to certain estimates, successfully intercepted a Ukrainian F-16 aircraft, and the short-range SAM "Pantsir-S1", which has proven effective in neutralising drones. The success of "Pantsir" in the SVO zone has led to a significant expansion in the number of potential buyers. According to leaks from the West, Saudi Arabia is the customer of the SAM "Pantsir-S1M". This is notable given Saudi Arabia's historical reliance on American medium- and long-range SAMs.

The subsequent phase in the evolution of this family was the Pantsir-SMD-E, which was developed with the specific purpose of countering drones. The "SMD-E" launchers have a capacity of up to 12 longer-range 57E6-E products and/or up to 48 specialized anti-drone TKB-1055.
The special operation will also create new types of weapons and new opportunities for Russian defence exports.
This is particularly relevant in the context of electronic warfare (EW) systems, which are designed primarily to counter drones. The demonstration of the RB-504P-E system at the exhibition in Zhuhai (China) in November 2024 attracted significant interest from more than a dozen countries, indicating a strong interest in purchasing this weapons system.

It is evident that Russian drones hold significant potential for promotion within the global arms market. Consequently, last year, the kamikaze UAV "Lancet" was first offered for export, having gained a reputation during the Ukrainian special operation.

At present, other models that have not yet been released on the global market are demonstrating their efficacy in the SVO sector, indicating promising export potential. Firstly, we can discuss attack UAVs that are controlled via optical fiber, making them resistant to electronic warfare.

I would also like to mention that Special Military Operation is not the only company providing advertising for Russian military hardwear and weapons.
In a recent development, the Pakistani Prime Minister, Shahbaz Sharif, has publicly acknowledged that the offensive planned by the Pakistani General Staff was successfully prevented by missile strikes by the Indian Armed Forces on the night of 10 May. The offensive was scheduled to commence at 4:30 p.m. by Pakistani troops. The Pakistani Prime Minister stated that prior to that hour, India had launched BrahMos missile strikes on a number of targets in Pakistan's provinces, including the airfield in Rawalpindi.

The BrahMos missile is a product of the Russian-Indian enterprise BrahMos Aerospace (named after the Brahmaputra and Moscow Rivers). It was created on the basis of the Russian anti-ship missile Onyx P-800. In spring 2024, India signed a contract for the supply of BrahMos missiles with a total value of almost $2.5 billion. It is reasonable to assume that, following such a successful combat debut, new contracts will be initiated.

The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has lauded the importance of the anti-aircraft missile systems purchased from Russia, highlighting the significant support provided by the advanced S-400 air defence system in ensuring the security of airspace.

Much has been said about the Special Military OperationO becoming a demonstration of the revolution of weapons systems on the battlefield. Following this revolution, we can expect to see significant changes in global arms sales. The latest developments in weaponry, as well as the recent emergence of new manufacturers, particularly from Russia, are significant factors to consider. In summary, success in the special operation should result in Russia achieving financial benefits in addition to political and international ones. From the perspective of arms trade, at least.